In Tuesday’s Kevin Pearson-centric episode, Justin Hartley‘s character shows up at brother Randall’s home after being honored at his high school alma mater. Before Kevin could tell his brother that he needs to inform him of something, Sterling K. Brown‘s character interrupts him, saying: “It’s okay, I already know. Kate lost the baby.”

Metz took to Twitter after the episode aired, writing: “It’s devastating, I know, but @ThisIsUsWriters take us on the journey of despair to express an important story line and situation we are often too afraid to discuss.”

The show’s creator, Dan Fogelman, also explained on Twitter. “RE: THAT ENDING (SPOILER): We didn’t want it to happen to them. But we’re trying to capture real life, and it happens. A lot. Next week is a difficult, ultimately life-affirming ep about love & family. We hope you’ll watch it & talk about it – not enough people do,” he teased.

RE: THAT ENDING (SPOILER): We didn't want it to happen to them. But we're trying to capture real life, and it happens. A lot. Next week is a difficult, ultimately life-affirming ep about love & family. We hope you'll watch it & talk about it – not enough people do. #ThisIsUs

Though Metz did not appear in this week’s episode, the preview for next week’s episode teases that it will be a Kate Pearson-centric dialogue as it is titled “Number Two” (Kevin was the firstborn triplet, followed by Kate).

“It just happened,” Toby says of the miscarriage before Kate tells him: “Toby, it happened to me. It didn’t happen to you.”